This TLC property is almost 300 acres and in the vicinity of Duke Forest, north of Chapel Hill. As you walk the outer perimeter trails, you'll see a number of homes. There were quite a few people out using the preserve today. I parked in the secondary parking area on the south side of the preserve. There is a larger lot on the north side. A number of hiking trails meander throughout.
This creek has the remnants of a grist mill. All that is left is this partial structure of stones. It appears the creek may have been diverted here since there is a deep creek bed bypassing the stone structure. Possibly, that bypass waterway was the main channel at one time or a dug raceway.
There were several bridges over creeks on the property. This one utilized steel I-beams to span the creek. Another used utility poles and other was supported by dimensional treated wood.
Where I am standing to take this photo, the remnants of a second grist mill stand. Just a small stone wall is left. I am told, these two grist mills were in operation for 200 years. The property was once the Johnstons' plantation. Other than the two mill sites, I did not see any other ruins or the cemetery mentioned at the main kiosk.
There were a number of benches of different design and materials. The above one is quite similar to ones I've seen at Knight Brown Preserve. The metal one below was donated in memory of a family of 4 killed in a plane wreck in Kenya in 2003.
I managed a hike of just under 5 miles. Most of the forest has good mature trees including a number of oddly growing Sycamores.
2 miles of New Hope Creek flow through the preserve.
No comments:
Post a Comment